Comparison of conventional and ultrasonic nebulisation of bronchodilator drugs in asthmatic subjects.

The effects of ultrasonic and conventional nebulisation of bronchodilator drugs were compared in 20 adults with moderately severe asthma. The bronchodilating effect of fenoterol hydrobromide was not significantly enhanced by ultrasonic nebulisation, and ultrasonic nebulisation of ipratropium bromide gave significantly less bronchodilatation than conventional nebulisation. Despite theoretical reasons why ultrasonic nebulisation of bronchodilator might be more effective than conventional nebulisation, this was not borne out by this study.